Even though medical marijuana has come a very long way in the past decade, the UN has never really shown a lot of interest in changing the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The international law helped cement marijuana as a globally demonized drug, and is still investigating countries that violate the treaty (like the U.S. and Uruguay) by legalizing marijuana. But the IMCPC is trying to change atll that it in the near future.

The coalition is petitioning for the UN to either remove marijuana from its drug treaties or else lower the classification of cannabis to a less severe listing. Either would free up individual nations to make progressive changes to their drug laws, and free up researchers to learn more about the medicinal benefits of marijuana.

“The UN policy on cannabis is outdated and at odds with its mission concerning human rights, and the right to adequate health care in particular,” said IMCPC do-founder and Americans for Safe Access’s executive director Steph Sherer.

“For centuries, we have known about and utilized the medicinal benefits of the cannabis plant… Scientific studies conducted over the past three decades affirm the therapeutic value of cannabis and should form the basis of international and domestic policies.”

The IMCPC’s declaration is expected to be delivered to UN officials in the coming days.